I have used a spreadsheet to track individuals over time and to identify possible links amongst all residents of New York who share a particular last name. Each row on the spreadsheet corresponds to a particular year (1880 through 1945) and a particular source of information (Census, Draft Registration, City Directory, & Other). Thus, for some years there are multiple rows.

Each column represents a specific identified head of household (census) and his/her family or an entry in a city directory or on a draft registration card. The entry for each cell includes all available information about family members (names, ages, dates of immigration, occupations etc.,) and any available address information.

This has allowed me to identify links between individuals using address information, occupation, and known information about draft registration requirements that would otherwise not have been possible.

I have also been able to correlate newspaper articles that list address info with particular families and identify property transactions (New York Times Real Estate listings), links to obituary and death notices, and other public events such as crime reports and fires.

Thanks to Michael of Waylan, MA, for today's Quick Tip! If you have a tip you would like to share with researchers, you can send it to ADNeditor@ancestry.com.

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